SEC Greenlights Generic Listing Standards - Opening Floodgates for Crypto ETPs
Wall Street's crypto blockade just crumbled.
The SEC's surprise approval of generic listing standards tears down the regulatory moat that kept institutional crypto products sidelined. No more case-by-case approvals—just standardized rules for crypto exchange-traded products hitting mainstream markets.
Why This Changes Everything
Asset managers can now launch crypto ETPs without begging for individual exemptions. The bureaucratic bottleneck just got automated. Expect a wave of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoin funds hitting exchanges within quarters—not years.
The Institutional On-Ramp Goes Live
Pension funds, RIAs, and hedge funds finally get their compliant entry point. The 'crypto's too risky' argument collapses when products trade alongside traditional ETFs with identical oversight. Volatility remains—but now it's packaged with proper custodians and surveillance.
Regulators Fold—But Keep Watching
SEC didn't surrender—they standardized. Same reporting requirements, same liquidity rules, same market manipulation safeguards. They just stopped pretending crypto assets require special witchcraft to regulate. Funny how decades-old market guards work fine when applied consistently.
Wall Street's New Cash Cow
Asset managers already dusting off shelved crypto proposals. BlackRock, Fidelity, and Vanguard now have a template to scale crypto offerings globally. The 1% management fee on trillions in new assets? That’ll make even crypto skeptics suddenly 'see the blockchain vision.'
The irony? Traditional finance spent years dismissing crypto—now they’ll make billions intermediating it.
SEC Smoothing The Path For Crypto
Basically, if the asset has a futures contract trading on a regulated exchange such as Coinbase for six months, it will be allowed to become a spot ETF, he explained. Aside from Bitcoin and Ethereum, there were 12 crypto assets trading as futures on Coinbase, which now have an easier path to becoming spot ETFs.
“By approving these generic listing standards, we are ensuring that our capital markets remain the best place in the world to engage in the cutting-edge innovation of digital assets,” said SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.
“This approval helps to maximize investor choice and foster innovation by streamlining the listing process and reducing barriers to access digital asset products within America’s trusted capital markets.”
Nova Dius President Nate Geraci also applauded the move:
“First, this SEC should be applauded for moving so quickly to implement a generic listing standards framework.”
Two years ago, the previous SEC was still battling Grayscale over a spot bitcoin ETF, he said before adding its amazing how far we’ve come.
The regulator also approved the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund, which holds spot digital assets based on the CoinDesk 5 Index, and afternoon-settled Bitcoin ETF options. However, it delayed the decision on the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF.
Altcoin ETFs Due Today
This week is a big one for altcoin ETFs with two highly anticipated launches today.
The REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR) and the REX-Osprey Dogecoin ETF (DOJE) are both expected to begin trading on Thursday.
It will be a first for a spot XRP fund and a spot meme coin fund in the United States, and analysts expect a slew of them to follow.
Launching Tomorrow: REX-Osprey
XRP ETF, $XRPR, & REX-OspreyDOGE ETF, $DOJE.
The first U.S.-listed ETFs offering spot exposure to $XRP and $DOGE go live tomorrow, offering investors a way to access these digital assets through an ETF structure.
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— REX Shares (@REXShares) September 17, 2025
